Norway slams the brakes on cod farming growth

cod fish swimming in blue sea

Norwegian regulators have called a temporary halt to further cod farming applications, particularly those at new locations. The sector has been growing so fast that the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) wants time for everyone to draw breath and examine any biological or related implications. Whether growth resumes will depend on an assessment of the…

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Now Cermaq is forced to cull 900,000 young salmon

Cermaq has become the latest large Norwegian salmon company to be hit by a major biological issue. The company said yesterday it has been forced to cull 900,000 fish with wounds in six cages at its facility near Hammerfest. The fish weigh around 500 grammes on average. Earlier this week the Lerøy Seafood group reported…

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Safe to eat

The latest round of testing shows that Norway’s farmed fish are still safe for consumers, as Vince McDonagh reports Farmed fish is free of illegal substances and safe to eat, research by the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research has found. The organisation carried out the work, which mostly took place in 2022, on behalf of…

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Mowi criticised over Norwegian salmon mortality

Mowi is being taken to task by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority over the high number of salmon deaths in central Norway. According to the national broadcaster NRK, around 180,000 fish weighing an average of three kilos died at a single site in just a month (January this year), so the Authority has called on…

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Lerøy outlines action over listeria issues

The Lerøy Seafood Group has issued a statement outlining how it plans to combat the company’s recent listeria problems. The issue appears to centre around a slaughterhouse at Lerøy Midt from where a number of cases have been reported. In December it was reported that Lerøy’s salmon and game supply business, Laks & Vilt (Salmon…

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Norway’s salmon giants facing welfare crackdown

Norway’s “big six” fish farming companies are set to come under close scrutiny from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority next year. Particular attention will be paid as to how well they handle fish welfare and health issues. It is hoped the move will lead to more effective welfare measures. The companies have not been named,…

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PD spreading in northern Norway, tests show

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has reported that another case of pancreatic disease (PD) has been detected at a fish farm in the north of the country. The facility is operated by salmon farmer Nova Sea, which has been told that it will have to empty the facility quickly in order to reduce the risk…

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Triploid salmon production to be stepped up

THE Norwegian Food Safety Authority has approved a number of applications for the production of triploid salmon at another two fish farms to help protect wild salmon stocks. There were an unprecedented high number of escapes at fish farms throughout the country last year which led to the then seafood minister, Harald T. Nesvik, demanding action and…

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New Russian ban on Norwegian salmon imports

RUSSIA is claiming to have found the restricted substance crystal violet in Norwegian fish processed in neighbouring Belarus, according to reports from Norway. Also known as gentian violet, crystal violet is used to treat fungal infections and for dying materials such as wood and paper. But the US Food and Drug Administration has said it should…

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Tensions mount in Russia-Norway salmon spat

OSLO is still waiting to hear exactly why Russia has suddenly banned shipments of Norwegian salmon and trout through Belarus. The Russians are claiming that some of the fish contains banned and harmful substances, but have so far failed to provide further details. Moscow imposed a ban on direct Norwegian fish imports in the summer…

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